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the legion was engaging them in front。
Bold before the danger came and timid in the moment of peril； the
Helvetii； though at the commencement of the movement they had chosen
Claudius Severus for their leader； knew not how to use their arms；
to keep their ranks； or to act in concert。 A pitched battle with
veteran troops would be destruction； a siege would be perilous with
fortifications old and ruinous。 On the one side was Caecina at the
head of a powerful army； on the other were the auxiliary infantry
and cavalry of Rhaetia and the youth of that province； inured to
arms and exercised in habits of warfare。 All around were slaughter and
devastation。 Wandering to and fro between the two armies； the Helvetii
threw aside their arms； and with a large proportion of wounded and
stragglers fled for refuge to Mount Vocetius。 They were immediately
dislodged by the attack of some Thracian infantry。 Closely pursued
by the Germans and Rhaetians they were cut down in their forests and
even in their hiding places。 Thousands were put to the sword；
thousands more were sold into slavery。 Every place having been
completely destroyed； the army was marching in regular order on
Aventicum； the capital town； when a deputation was sent to surrender
the city。 This surrender was accepted。 Julius Alpinus； one of the
principal men； was executed by Caecina； as having been the promoter of
the war。 All the rest he left to the mercy or severity of Vitellius。
It is hard to say whether the envoys from Helvetia found the Emperor
or his army less merciful。 〃Exterminate the race；〃 was the cry of
the soldiers as they brandished their weapons； or shook their fists in
the faces of the envoys。 Even Vitellius himself did not refrain from
threatening words and gestures； till at length Claudius Cossus； one of
the Helvetian envoys； a man of well…known eloquence； but who then
concealed the art of the orator under an assumption of alarm； and
was therefore more effective； soothed the rage of the soldiers； who；
like all multitudes； were liable to sudden impulses； and were now as
inclined to pity as they had been extravagant in fury。 Bursting into
tears and praying with increasing earnestness for a milder sentence；
they procured pardon and protection for the state。
Caecina while halting for a few days in the Helvetian territory；
till he could learn the decision of Vitellius； and at the same time
making preparations for the passage of the Alps； received from Italy
the good news； that Silius' Horse； which was quartered in the
neighbourhood of Padus； had sworn allegiance to Vitellius。 They had
served under him when he was Proconsul in Africa； from which place
Nero had soon afterwards brought them； intending to send them on
before himself into Egypt； but had recalled them in consequence of the
rebellion of Vindex。 They were still in Italy； and now； at the
instigation of their decurions； who knew nothing of Otho； but were
bound to Vitellius； and who magnified the strength of the advancing
legions and the fame of the German army； they joined the
Vitellianists； and by way of a present to their new Prince they
secured for him the strongest towns of the country north of the Padus；
Mediolanum； Novaria； Eporedia； and Vercellae。 This Caecina had
learnt from themselves。 Aware that the widest part of Italy could
not be held by such a force as a single squadron of cavalry； he sent
on in advance the auxiliary infantry from Gaul； Lusitania； and
Rhaetia； with the veteran troops from Germany； and Petra's Horse；
while he made a brief halt to consider whether he should pass over the
Rhaetian range into Noricum； to attack Petronius； the procurator；
who had collected some auxiliaries； and broken down the bridges over
the rivers； and was thought to be faithful to Otho。 Fearing however
that he might lose the infantry and cavalry which he had sent on in
advance； and at the same time reflecting that more honour was to be
gained by holding possession of Italy； and that； wherever the decisive
conflict might take place； Noricum would be included among the other
prizes of victory； he marched the reserves and the heavy infantry
through the Penine passes while the Alps were still covered with the
snows of winter。
Meanwhile Otho； to the surprise of all； was not sinking down into
luxury and sloth。 He deferred his pleasures； concealed his profligacy；
and moulded his whole life to suit the dignity of empire。 Men
dreaded all the more virtues so false； and vices so certain to return。
Marius Celsus； consul elect； whom he had rescued from the fury of
the soldiers by pretending to imprison him； he now ordered to be
summoned to the Capitol。 He sought to acquire a reputation for
clemency by sparing a distinguished man opposed to his own party。
Celsus pleaded guilty to the charge of faithful adherence to Galba；
and even made a merit of such an example of fidelity。 Otho did not
treat him as a man to be pardoned； and； unwilling to blend with the
grace of reconciliation the memory of past hostility； at once admitted
him to his intimate friendship； and soon afterwards appointed him to
be one of his generals。 By some fatality； as it seemed； Celsus
maintained also to Otho a fidelity as irreproachable as it was
unfortunate。 The escape of Celsus gratified the leading men in the
State； was generally praised by the people； and did not displease even
the soldiers； who could not but admire the virtue which provoked their
anger。
Then followed as great a burst of joy； though from a less worthy
cause； when the destruction of Tigellinus was achieved。 Sophonius
Tigellinus； a man of obscure birth； steeped in infamy from his
boyhood； and shamelessly profligate in his old age； finding vice to be
his quickest road to such offices as the command of the watch and of
the Praetorian Guard； and to other distinctions due to merit； went
on to practise cruelty； rapacity； and all the crimes of maturer years。
He perverted Nero to every kind of atrocity； he even ventured on
some acts without the Emperor's knowledge； and ended by deserting
and betraying him。 Hence there was no criminal； whose doom was from
opposite motives more importunately demanded； as well by those who
hated Nero； as by those who regretted him。 During the reign of Galba
Tigellinus had been screened by the influence of Vinius； who alleged
that he had saved his daughter。 And doubtless he had preserved her
life； not indeed out of mercy； when he had murdered so many； but to
secure for himself a refuge for the future。 For all the greatest
villains； distrusting the present； and dreading change； look for
private friendship to shelter them from public detestation； caring not
to be free from guilt； but only to ensure their turn in impunity。 This
enraged the people more than ever； the